Sarries' Bath time at the Gardens

By Jason Harris
November 5 2004

Saracens v Bath previews have traditionally highlighted the fact that you could barely separate them with the proverbial cigarette paper at time of writing. This season it's no different as both sides go into Round 8 of the Zurich Premiership with identical records: Won 3, Lost 3, Drawn 1, 15 points

Bath are sixth in the table as they have a slightly better points difference (-6 compared with Sarries' -16) but this will count for absolutely nothing come 3pm Saturday.

Bath have surprised some by selecting Olly Barkley at full back, putting faith in Chris Malone to partner Martyn Wood at half back. But it is the fearsome Bath pack containing the likes of Borthwick, Grewcock, Lipman and Humphreys that must be overcome if Sarries are to be in with a chance of beating the west country side for the first time in two years.

The (official) visitors have been in the headlines for non-rugby reasons this week and their defeat at Leinster in the Heineken Cup has become a distant memory to many. However, John Connollly will have concentrated the minds of his charges to the matter in hand - beatin the Men in Black - so any Collymore collywobbles will have been forgotten by the time Sean Davey whistles for time on.


Rod Kafer leaves his final selection to the last minute but could be blessed with the services of Iain Fullarton and Cobus Visagie to lock horns with the much-lauded Bath eight.

As usual, it's too close to call on paper due to those identical records, but Sarries haven't lost in their last five games and their confidence is improving as a result. Providing they can keep the Bath pack under control, they will be in with a shout. I'll go for a narrow "home" win.